Security forces found weapons and missiles used by the military in three cars on the Alexandria-Marsa Matrouh Desert Road, Al-Ahram newspaper’s website reported on Thursday.
The drivers of the cars are being interrogated, said a security source, noting that the weapons were most likely smuggled through Egypt’s western border with Libya.
The newspaper quoted the source as saying police discovered 40 ground-to-ground missiles and 17 rocket-propelled grenades, potentially for use in attacking armored vehicles and tanks, in addition to other weapons still being counted and identified. The source said the Defense Ministry would be given more details when the police investigation is complete.
The same source said the Interior Ministry's drug control department coordinated with Central Security Forces to find the vehicles carrying the weapons.
Media outlets have reported that weapon smuggling across the Egypt-Libya border has increased since the overthrow and killing of Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi last year.
Residents of Siwa, an Egyptian oasis near the Libyan border, accused smugglers last February of starting massive fires on their farms as punishment for their cooperation with Egyptian authorities to tighten security measures in the region.
